The Astounding History of the CSS Sumter
In the spring of 1861, as the battles
began raging in the American Civil War, a dashing naval officer took
command of a swift cruiser that would give him the necessary training
for later exploits that would carve forever his and his country's
name in the annals of naval warfare. The dashing naval officer was
Commander Rafael Semmes. The ship that he trained on was the CSS
Sumter. The CSS Sumter would be the first warship the
world would see carrying the flag of the new Confederate States of
America.
Originally built in Philadelphia as the
merchant ship Habana, the CSS Sumter was purchased by
the Confederate Government in April of 1861, and outfitted as a
warship. She was purchased in New Orleans and was fitted there by the
Confederate Arsenal of New Orleans with one 8 inch 68 pound gun
mounted on a swivel mount and with four 32 pound naval guns mounted
two to either side. Then she was given a crew of 114 officers and
men. Once the ship was ready in early June, she was moved down
towards the mouth of the Mississippi River before slipping through
the Union blockade at the end of the month. As the CSS Sumter
slipped through the blockade she was chased by the USS
Brooklyn.
The CSS Sumter was able to
successfully slip past the chase of the USS Brooklyn
however and was able to head out to the open sea. She then
cruised the Caribbean and the South Atlantic down to the port of
Maranhao, Brazil. In this part of her career she showed her
capabilities under the adept leadership of Commander Semmes by
capturing several prizes. Following the cruise to Maranhao, Brazil,
the CSS Sumter headed for Martinique where she met the USS
Iroquois. Again the Union Navy attempted to stop the CSS
Sumter but the crew was able to maneuver the ship in such a
fashion that the USS Iroquois lost her.
The next phase of the career of the CSS
Sumter saw her take prizes on the way to Cadiz, Spain. In this
phase of the CSS Sumter's career the US Navy attempted to stop
her in St. Pierre only to be foiled yet again in their efforts.
Finally in January of 1862, she was forced to sail into the port of
Gibraltar because she was too damaged to continue voyages without
repairs. As a result of the damage and needed repairs, she was sold
to the Fraser-Trenholm Company. They would refit her and continue her
service to the Confederate cause as a blockade runner under the name
of the SS Gibraltar. Under the command of Captain E. C. Reid,
the scourge of the US Navy would continue as the CSS Sumter/ SS
Gibraltar brought several loads of cannon and other war materials
into the port of Wilmington, North Carolina, throughout 1863, and
1864.
In her career as a commerce raider
under the command of Commander Rafael Semmes, the CSS Sumter
managed to capture a total of 18 enemy ships. Of these ships, 9 were
released on bond and 8 were burned. Although Commander Semmes led the
CSS Sumter for only a few months from June of 1861 to January
of 1862, the command gave him invaluable experience that would come
out in his later exploits. The CSS Sumter/ SS Gibraltar
finally met her match and sank in a gale off of the coast of France
in 1867.
Sources
“CSS
Sumter”, Civil War Wiki
“CSS
Sumter”, Carlisle Cavern of Carnage
“Ships
of the Confederate States – CSS Sumter”,
Naval Historical Center
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